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Subscribe to RSSThe man accused of shooting and killing a veteran NYPD officer at point-blank range in December said in videotaped statements obtained exclusively by NBC New York that he pulled the trigger by accident, explaining: "I was so nervous and I panicked."
The videos are the first time the public is hearing from accused gunman Lamont Pride about the shooting. In them, he also told prosecutors he wants a break on prison time for telling them what he knows.
“The reason I decided to come forward with everything is I need to help myself out of this situation,” Pride says in the video. “I’m not gonna get out of it. I know I’m gonna do some type of crime. I’m not trying to do the max.”
Read original Lamont Pride story, watch exclusive videos on NBCNewYork.com
Pride is accused of shooting 22-year veteran officer Peter Figoski after a drug deal went bad in East New York. His attorney declined to comment about the videotaped statements.
Pride and four others are charged in the robbery-turned-cop-killing. All have pleaded not guilty.
In three separate interviews in the hours after the shooting, Pride tells different versions of events.
First, the recording shows him claiming he was only trying to buy some drugs when other gunmen burst into the basement apartment. But under questioning later, he allegedly admits to bringing the murder weapon into the building to rob the drug den.
“We went over there … but not everything went according to plan,” he says.
Figoski and other officers had arrived at the apartment building to investigate a 911 call.
Wearing a white jumpsuit because police took his clothing away as evidence, the video shows Pride re-enacting the shooting scene in the 75th precinct stationhouse.
He claims that he tripped, got up, and then as he tried to run by Figoski to get away, he says he accidentally pulled the trigger.
“I look up to clutch my hands to run … he is coming and I’m going … so it was like 'Boom.'"
A prosecutor asks,”What do you mean 'Boom?'”
“The gun goes off as I clutch my hands to run … I’m like this running,” says Pride, 27, as he pumps his arms in front of the camera. “As I’m running, I’m clutching my hands. I never took my hand off the trigger. That was my mistake. I was so nervous and I panicked. I didn't even think.”
Police dispute that account, saying the shooting was intentional and from point-blank range.
Figoski, of West Babylon, left behind a wife and four daughters.
City left in shock by veteran cop's death
The killing of the veteran officer shocked the city. The Figoski family received an outpouring of support; more than $2 million has been raised to help pay for their education.
The mayor called the killing a “depraved criminal act.”
In his statements, Pride claims he and the other suspects drove to the East New York building to try to steal cash and drugs.
“'He’s got money, let’s rob him,'” Pride said one associate told him, and he says he replied, "No problem, just tell me what I got to do.'”
In the statement, Pride never appears to offer any remorse for the officer.
A spokesman for Brooklyn District Attorney Charles Hynes declined to comment, as did an NYPD spokesman.
Pride was questioned hours after the shooting. He talks of his years growing up in foster care homes and how he smoked marijuana with friends.
He gives a detailed account of how he ran from the scene after the shooting and was quickly caught by another officer who gave chase.
“I was running scared,” Pride said, as he told how he tried to hide the weapon by throwing it under a parked car.
“I want to come clean,” he says. “So that way when the time do come I can get some type of leniency.”
More content from msnbc.com and NBC News
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It was purely by accident that that he was pointing the gun at the officer when he squeezed the trigger. yea rite FRY HIM
Since we know that NY won't execute anyone regardless of the crime, I say, Lock him up in some abandoned prison where even his own Public Defenser Attorney can't find him! Conveniently forget about him by accident. No biggie...NY is notorious for losing paperwork!
OOps, I slipped with this needle of a leathal concoction in my hand and accidentally injected you. So sorry, too bad. At least on a good note you are not leaving behind a wife and four daughters.
It's just an excuse for him to feel better. "I just clutched the gun when I was about to run and it jsut went off." That MFer new what he was doing... He wanted to get away, so he shot the guy blocking his get away. LIFE w/o PAROLE!
im confused, how were the police there so quickly to stop a robbery of a drug den?
there wasnt anything in the article that talked about that...
and since most drug dealers dont call the police to report their stash is being raided...
something about this feels fishy/weird
If Lamont Pride is looking for "sympathy" it's between sh!t and syphilis in the dictionary!
If they can't kill him, then why not give him some bread and water, and seal him behind a brick wall like they did in the middle ages?
Pride is just trying to help himself to a shorter prison term. Obviously he feels no remorse and will continue to be a threat to the community whenever he's released. He needs to be removed from society for several decades.
...his next rendezvous with Bubba will be accidental as well.
Legalize drugs for God sakes. Let's give it a try at least.
I cannot stand it when people are so willing to kill someone for killing someone. You don't even realize that what you are saying is that murder is ok. Whether it is done by the state or a criminal it is still murder.
canttakenomore -
I know that makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside to think that's gonna happen, however the reality is, he's a COP-KILLER.. Cop-killer's are pretty much revered in the prison population and treated with respect.
Sadly, no.. No bubba this waste of flesh.
Guy should know only cops are allowed to kill someone by accident and not do any time. See the BART incident.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZTbJH6BNaU
WarBeast...
You make a valid point...
I will pay for the cost of the bullet that takes this trash out. I'd even be willing to 'accidentally' pull the trigger.
Yeah, the devil made him do it. Uh, huh. Sure. Typical.
What a pity we're going to have to support this piece of refuse at his Club Med day care center .......ahem.....umm......(cough) ......excuse me.....prison.......
He panicked? My a$$.
1.10 deleted, exmorman calling for the death of all cops. Banned, flameout.
robi - Obviously telling him he was "a bad little boy" in his younger days proved ineffective. The problem with "killing someone for killing someone" doesn't happen often enough nor fast enough. Two-plus decades for capital punishment is not much of a deterrent.
By your analogy, then letting them stay in prison until they die is also "killing someone for killing someone".
Wow your name sure does not represent you very well. I would say you did not think at all writing that. Capital punishment is no better for adults than for children.
They should've double tapped this POS on the night in question and been done with it. He doesn't deserve anyone's sympathy or a merciful sentencing b/c his story is obviously complete and utter BS.
And I love how he never says he wants to come clean because he did something remotely wrong. He just wants a lighter sentence. NO! NO! NO!
Yeah but the poor guy was in foster homes and smoked pot and just got a crappy hand dealt in his life <<<sarcasm>>>
I hope he doesn't get the lighter sentence too.
Well, at least he's being honest about his intentions. :/
Enough said.
a cop killer will not get any leniency.too bad NY has done away with the death penalty.
Just as depraved and criminal as the city gunning down an 18 year old boy in his bathroom, which the NYPD has expressed no remorse for.
Really Tek???? I guess this 18 year old 'boy' was saying his night prayers and brushing before bed? 18 is a 'man' last time I checked and cops don't shoot people for no reason!
Bean, you had better check your facts... NYPD is notorious for killing unarmed black males and even an old unstable black woman, Eleanor Bumpus. Not a year goes by that NYPD doesn't kill some innocent kid and I know because I am from Brooklyn. I don't see the outrage when it is the police doing the killing! Now it is sad for the cops family & the fact he lost his life in this mess but do not make it seem that the police are without Sin because that is pure BS!
Eddie... you convieniently forgot to mention that the unstable black woman had a huge knife.
Who here thinks VIKINGS (as in the old nordic peeps) were pretty bad ass awesome dudes?
who here thinks what this guy did was depraved and criminal?
ok hypocrites, you can shut and go away now.
Who here thinks the year 800 is relevant to the year 2012?
Maybe the (old nordic) police were not doing their job in capturing rogue Vikings.
Tek also forgets to mention that the 18 year old boy was running from the police.. ran into his grandmother's home, and in the bathroom got into a struggle with the police. It wasn't like he was some "innocent" that was doing nothing wrong. He may have been unarmed, but when you are resisting arrest, and struggling with the cops, you can expect to get your ass shot! The police have no idea if you are armed or not, and when you are resisting, they have no idea if you are reaching for a weapon.
i agree, the police are always shooting young men some are unarmed some arent .but nobody knows what happened unless you were there. like it is said sometimes, ther are three side to every story my side your side and then the truth in the middle. im sorry for the cops family, but im also sorry for all the innocent victims of the nypd
From article: Figoski and other officers had arrived at the apartment building to investigate a 911 call
Also from article about 18 year old. Was followed home, and did not struggle with police.
Hundreds Protest Killing Of Unarmed Teen At Hands Of NYPD
Hundreds of people gathered outside the 47th Precinct station house last night to protest Thursday's killing of 18-year-old Ramarley Graham at the hands of an NYPD officer. Marching from the family's home on East 229th Street, the crowd chanted "NYPD KKK" and "No Justice, no peace!" According to the Times, Graham's sister Leona Virgo addressed the crowd. "This is not just about Ramarley," she said. "This is about all young black men."
Graham was shot and killed in his bathroom after police, believing he had a gun, spotted him engaging in a drug deal and followed him home. Police Commissioner Ray Kelly told reporters that officers announced their presence after entering the home, and that the officer who killed Graham, 30-year-old Richard Haste, yelled "Show me your hands! Gun! Gun!" before firing. Graham's 58-year-old grandmother, Patricia Hartley, was the only other person in the apartment and said she heard no such thing.
Graham did not struggle with police before he died, as was initially reported, and was allegedly dumping a small amount of marijuana in the toilet when he was killed.
The memorial outside Graham's home in the Bronx (screenshot)
I didn't "forget to mention" it, I didn't mention it because it isn't relevant. There isn't an excuse for killing an unarmed kid, period. I don't care if he had 25 pounds of heroin.
I could also talk about Abner Louima and Mr. Diallo, two men who were doing absolutely nothing and still abused by the police. And Oscar Grant, who was on his back handcuffed when shot by enforcement agents.
Guess he is hoping the jury buys this lie. Give him the chair and put it under DSAF-Did society a favor.
Another pot smoker.
Marijuana kills.
Yeah, guns don't.
Dang! My pencil keeps misspelling words!
sam adams, in the story. Dirtball isn't responsible because he was raised in foster homes and "he smoked marijuana with friends". A Sacramento Sheriff's Detective was gunned down by a gangsta during a drug bust a couple years ago and said the same thing, "I was only there to buy marijuana and got scared", to try to make himself seem less threatening during trial. During trial the gangsta's lengthy history of raping, robbing and pillaging as well as use of just about every illegal drug around came out, but hey, stupid people initially had sympathy because he was only a pot smoker being victimized by the Nazi stormtroopers who are trying to prevent anyone from just being chill (while carrying guns around to commit rape and robberies lol). I don't mean this as anti-pot, as pot smokers were always the most relaxed and easy to deal with people when I was working the street, just a reality check that the pot smokers never had guns and never had enough ambition to try and escape as they really were chill.
Your mind controls that pencil or gun. Mind altering drugs make you lose that control.
arizona - like legal booze?
Yes Jessica. Just like booze and all other mind altering drugs, (illegal or legal).
Smoking marijuana is not going to make you lose your mind to the point of killing someone. The only "mind control" marijuana is going to give you is the munchies.
Arizona -
I call BS. You've never smoked in your life have you? If so, you'd know your statement is complete and utter drivel. It must be nice to be a superior being, who's never lost control, and never done anything illegal. You sir, are a saint......NOT. I smoked for over 20 years until caught growing for myself. I have a great wife and 2 small kids who I love dearly. This dirtbag wouldn't have done this if mj was legal, so give it a rest Mr. Almighty.
No, illegal pot smokers who obtain stolen weapons kill. Stay off the drugs.
Here we go, just more responsibility taken away from the real source and projected on drugs and guns.
No wonder this country is falling apart, the real blame is never placed where it belongs. With this continued blame game do we ever expect accountability and responsibility to return to our National mentality?
Your stupid Ariazona
@mary jones,
Your spelling doesn't make you look real smart either??
No, an out-of-control and FAILED Prohibition is at fault here. Pot smokers are as non-violent as folks come, until they fear the loss of their freedoms, just like anybody else.
Prohibition has failed America. There is no simpler way to say it.
And that's not necessary either.
Craz...Some ppl just need to relax. Some ppl can do it w/o help, others need help. There's a lot of stress these days and just because you seem to be anti mj, doesn't mean we all should be like you. Again, another righteous person telling me what I should or should not be doing. It is my right to smoke if I want, and the feds have nothing to do w/ that right, other than to protect it. In the meantime, I do agree w/ you to a degree, but the statement should have read ANYONE who has a gun, whether illegally or legally obtained, has the potential to kill w/ it. It's not just "illegal pot smokers". Unfortunately, ppl are killed all the time by legally owned guns as well as the illegally obtained ones. Some killings are justifiable, most are not.
your = it's YOURS, not mine
you're = YOU ARE.
Didn't we all go to elementary school and learn this? For the love of Pete go back to school and learn the difference.
I'm not opposed to mj, or any other drug for that matter. The problem is that while it is illegal, someone will have to go through, by definition, a criminal element to partake. This carries a lot of risk both with the criminals dealing the drugs, as well as the law attempting to curtail the activity.
Remember that it is the police officer's job to enforce the law, regardless of the impact to society. It is the courts that have to determine what the applicable punishment for the illegal offense. From what I've heard, scentences for possesion of mj are way down, and sometimes not taken on by DAs anymore, but it's important to note that these people are still breaking the law. It reminds me of that old TV show "Night Court" where the standard judgment for pretty much everyone was $50 and time served.
The shamelessness of entitled, enabled savages like this dirtbag is very telling. Our society is preyed upon by a drug-addicted, mericless underclass everyday and more often than not, the legal system's response showers contempt on the common sense of ordinary law-abiding citizens. The time has come to put an end to the madness along with this monster and his cohorts!
Who? the cop or the cop killer??? Seems to me their the same.
Was this POS gangsta your booty bandit ? By the way , they're is a contraction meaning they are , their is a pronoun usually showing possession . Just in case it ever comes up on your arrest forms , IDIOT.
This is what the police hear all the time from this type. No matter what it is never their fault, it is the fault of the police for coming after them. Real trash.
No doubt the NRA will claim that this happened not because any scumbag can buy a gun in this country, it's because he smoked marijuana. Anyone that supports the NRA really needs to rethink their priorities.
Get real. The NRA supports legal, responsible gun ownership. Does not apply to this idiot. I suppose you might want to ban gun ownership because of the danger of someone getting killed by mistake. Then I suggest you ban kitchen knives, cars, farm equipment and all electrical appliances at the same time.
Exactly, "Don't need one", because any fool knows that anybody who has taken a firearms safety class and legally purchased a firearm would do the same thing under the same circumstances. Anybody who thinks access to firearms causes crime should be in favor of confiscating Rosie O"Donnell's silverware.
Anyone who tries to blame the NRA for violence needs to think period.
Should we cut your hands off because you can kill people with them?
don't need one, how about a homework assignment? Google "zip guns" and you will learn how easy it is to make a firearm; though it would be unsophisticated it would be deadly. You don't even need bullets in them to kill others, just a strong spring and something like a ball bearing. Quite effective in a small room such as in any house when you and your gangsta buddies are performing a home invasion robbery.
Absolutely crap. Don't be comparing kitchen knives, cars, farm equipment, electrical supplies or hands to guns. The others aren't made specifically for doing damage or direct harm or killing. If they're dangerous it's because someone doesn't use them properly....kinda like this scum and HIS gun. The NRA has it's place, but don't insult my intelligence by comparing useful items to guns.
Respectfully, If you think it's an insult to your intelligence you have more thinking to do.
Secondly guns are used to feed people as well, just as your kitchen knife. I hope you also know solders are trained to kill with their hands as well as their guns. Citizens learn martial arts for protection. Protection provided with your hands and body.
Should we ban all modern technology because it too can be used to kill?
@ Bobby
Not sure I understand your response. First you say I need to do more thinking, then you later seem to corraborate my sentiments about the comparison w/ "Should we ban all modern technology because it too can be used to kill?" What's your point here? Sorry, maybe I'm thinking too much?
The point was none of my previous statements were intended to insult your or anyones intelligance. The more thinking to do was a reference to what I described in the second paragraph.
The more thinking part was intended this way: Any item in our homes (or even our hands) can be used for it's intended purpose. Or it can be used as a weapon. Just as guns can be used for useful purposes or they can be used for harmful purposes.
Technology has evolved to make our lives easier, yet at the same time it can be used for harmful purposes. I would rather take all the advancements in technology and trust there are more people out there doing the right thing, than looking to do harm.
Which is pretty much what you said, I was more concerned with the insulting your intelligence part.
Thanks Bobby. Since you agree, no problem :) j/k
Really just seemed like a hollow point (no pun intended) w/ the comparisons to guns. And I appreciate your concern over insulting my (our) intelligence. Few ppl here seem to care about that. Have a good day and nice chatting.
My hand-gun is a tool. It is used in my business. I never use it to kill. You can't have it.
Guns have other uses. Don't listen to the criminals that want you to get rid of yours.
If someone is bound determined to kill you, there is little you can do to stop it short of killing him. Guns or not, people will kill each other. They did before guns were invented, and they would even if they were banned. Also banning guns would have the same effect as prohibtion did in the 1920's. It would only strengthen organized crime, and leave most citizens defenseless against those who illegally acquire them. There is a reason our fore fathers added the 2nd amendment to the constitution.
He is a waste of DNA
There is no telling how many bad things the cop did before his death. I suspect he would have robbed the drug dealers of their money and drugs and then possibly shot them because they were witnesses. The rest of the NYPD would have protected and defended him. They are a low lifed bunch of thugs.
me thinks someone is bitter for getting caught at something.
Hahaha whats wrong little annie did u get a speeding ticket!...Make me a sandwich libby pos
he shot a cop because he got scared during a failed drug deal. FRY HIM!!!
bury this silly sorry son of a bitch
This guy wants leniency? He got it already by not getting shot during the commission of the crime! When will America learn that one bullet to the head of these fools is far cheaper than years of jail and appeals?
Yeah....I know....the Bill of Rights and the Constitution and all. Too bad, really. People like this drag us all down financially.
sorry to put it this way..but...BLACK people never do anything wrong...it's always somebody elses fault.give him the death penalty...now the ACLU will get involved
I don't thin NY has the death penalty.
Who said it wasn't wrong or his fault? Even he didn't say it was right or someone else's fault...dumb bitch
truthbetold-3964076, everything before this was fine.
You're suspended for a day for violating #1 of the Code of Honor.
Too bad there is no legal penalty for stupidity. I wonder if this fool can walk and chew gum at the same time.
The worst part is this guy should go to jail and get pounded. However if you are a cop killer in jail, YOU DA MAN.
This is just another depraved piece of trash that's a parasite on society. Who should care about his "feelings" when he murdered a very honorable and productive citizen of society? Aren't we, as a nation, getting tired of all this nonsense?
Oh come on he was just panicking during a drug deal.
no mercy for you!
surprise surprise-A BLACK PERSON,AGAIN! is that all they know,bad rap and violence?
Bring back the death penalty and hang him! Then we can always pretend we panicked...
Sucks to be him, he's as guilty as it gets!! Drugs, guns, stealing, killing, what more do you need. He would have been just as nervous if he had tried to rob a mother defending her children or a pastor defending his church. The fact the it was a police officer doesn't change that fact that if the dig bat wasn't doing something illegal and wouldn't have been in a "nervous" situation!!
Now he wants the courts to go easy with him because he's trying to lessen his time. He isn't cooperating because it's the right thing to do, he only wants to help himself. Do we really need that kind of person on the streets???
OH - And I guess he packed a Gun because he wanted to be Friendly?
Another Obama Accomplishment!
PS --Maybe Michele can start a NEW Community Love Program ?
What does Obama have to do with this..? Did you see that article about people with low intelligence in the Huffington post and how they tend to be racist and conservative. You need to read that.
READ - R-E-A-D , MORON - Y-O-U
I tripped and the gun went off boom C'MON MAN give this clown the maxium sentence allowed and give him another life sentence for his story.
So where are all the haters of police on this one??? No screaming about the police taking the law into their own hands and executing this POS??? That's because it is pure BS. This guy and others like him are a danger to society and should not be among the breathing.